Panic gripped western Japan as a 6.4 magnitude earthquake slammed Shimane Prefecture Tuesday morning, injuring multiple residents and spawning two aftershocks. The Japan Meteorological Agency detailed the 10:18 AM event at 10 km depth, with epicenter at 35.3°N, 133.2°E, shaking Shimane and Tottori at seismic intensities exceeding 5.
Aftershocks of 5.1 and 5.4 struck minutes later at 10:28 and 10:37 AM, keeping tension high. In Matsue, four people required medical attention for injuries from toppled objects and falls, alongside reports of home damages per NHK. Sakaiminato in Tottori faced road cracks, and Fukuyama, Hiroshima, counted two more casualties.
Bullet trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen screeched to a stop between Okayama and Hiroshima due to power issues, with JR West projecting afternoon resumption amid ongoing delays. The disruption echoes a prior 5.7 quake near Iwate on December 31, centered 30 km offshore at 40.1°N, 142.9°E, which hit Morioka at intensity 4 sans tsunami warning.
Resilient as ever, Japanese communities sprang into action, showcasing drilled readiness. No fatalities emerged, but the spate of quakes serves as a stark reminder of the tectonic forces beneath the islands. Officials ramp up inspections, while seismologists track patterns for potential escalations.